No.334276
muh symbolism!
No.334285
>Why would the revelation that it doesn't actually exist be so mind blowing that it would cause the computer to have a melt down?
My understanding is the computer both indoctrinates a small percentage of the population to rebel and want to escape and also sends out sandmen to the outside world periodically to chase runners in order to test the conditions of the environment. If it's safe enough that the test subjects returns alive to give a report the system shuts down in order to force humans to leave and repopulate the planet instead of being confined and dependent on an artificial environment.
It wasn't explained very well and I could be wrong but I'm not going to read the novel it's based on.